SOS on iPhone: Your Ultimate Lifeline in Emergency Situations

The SOS feature on an iPhone is extremely useful and comes in handy, especially during tricky situations. Here’s an explainer along with a guide on what SOS is and how you can use it on your iPhone.

Whether you’re out late at night or in an unfamiliar neighborhood, or you’ve encountered a sudden health crisis, your iPhone is more than just a communication tool; it’s a lifeline.

The SOS feature embedded in every iPhone ensures that help is just a few taps away when you need it the most. This safety measure, designed to provide instant contact with emergency services, can prove to be a game-changer in a critical situation.

In the increasingly unpredictable world we live in, safety is paramount. Apple, with its user-centric design philosophy, has integrated a robust SOS feature in iPhones. This feature can come in handy when you find yourself in a dangerous situation, needing immediate help, or even when you witness an emergency and need to quickly alert authorities.

an image of sos screen on iphone
The SOS feature on iPhones is really useful (Image Credits – Apple, Pixabay)

What Does SOS on iPhone Mean?

On an iPhone, SOS is an emergency feature that, when activated, automatically dials the local emergency number. It’s like having a panic button right in your pocket.

The term “SOS” doesn’t specifically stand for anything on its own in this context, but it is universally recognized as a distress signal, a call for help.

How to make Emergency calls using SOS on iPhone?

Using the SOS feature to make emergency calls on an iPhone is quite straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

For iPhone 8 or later

  1. Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons, until the Emergency SOS slider appears on the screen.
  2. Drag the slider to initiate the call to emergency services.

For iPhone 7 or earlier

  1. Quickly press the side (or top) button five times.
  2. The Emergency SOS slider will pop up.
  3. Again, drag the slider to call emergency services.

Remember, if you’ve set up your emergency contacts in your Health app after the SOS call ends, your device automatically sends your emergency contacts a text message with your current location, unless you choose to cancel this option.

an image of an iphone beside a macbook
(Image via Pixabay)

SOS on iPhone: Your Lifeline in Emergencies

In this article, we’ve looked into the SOS feature on your iPhone – a vital tool designed to ensure your safety. We’ve addressed what SOS means in the context of an iPhone, and how it serves as a quick and effective way to alert emergency services in a crisis.

We’ve also walked you through the steps on how to use this feature so that you’re well-equipped to handle any emergency situation. Remember, staying safe is always the priority, and the SOS function on your iOS device is a key tool to aid you in that mission.


So, there you have it – that’s basically everything you need to know about the SOS feature of your iPhone. Stay connected by following our Twitter page and you may comment your thoughts below.

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